Cream Scones and Lady Londonderry Tea

I really like this scone recipe. It is easy to keep the items on hand so that they can be made quickly. I like to drink these with a nice, cuppa tea! One of my new favorites is called Lady Londonderry. More on that below. Otherwise, try Assam or Ceylon tea.

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Cream Scones
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1 1/4 cup Flour
1 1/2 tsp. Baking powder
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 cup Cold unsalted butter
3 tbs. Sugar
1/3 cup Whipping cream, or milk
Choose one: 1/2 c. Mini chocolate chips
1/2 c. Currants (raisins)
1/2 c. Dried blueberries or cranberries
1/2 c. Walnuts or pecans
1.2 c. Dried fruit (chopped)

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Cut cold butter into pieces. Using a pastry blender, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add sugar and choice of additions. Toss to blend. Add cream and stir just until mixture holds together. Gather into a ball. Knead ten times. Pat dough into a six-inch circle. Cut into 6-8 wedges. Bake at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes until light golden. Remove scones and place on a towel on a cooling rack. I like to drizzle these with a glaze. Water and some confectioners sugar mixed to a runny glaze.

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Lady Londonderry Tea (Traditional)
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"It is commonly known that, if one had a grand enough standing in society, one could, for a price, taste and design one's own tea blend, which forever after would carry one's name, thus ensuring a legacy of taste with connoisseurs and commoners alike. When Lady Londonderry first aspired to greatness, her attention turned first to the teaching of fashion and etiquette (of which she considered herself an expert) and then to the creation of the perfect tea. It is said she spent weeks in the tea houses, tasting this and that tea, mixing and matching teas to come up with the elusive delicate perfection which she sought. And finally, after two months of intensive research, it was finished. The result was a mixture of Ceylon, India, and Formosa teas, more delicate than English Breakfast and Earl Gray, but with, in her estimation, an essence that would inspire the mind toward things of higher and more noble substance. Lady Londonderry's personal blend. " ---from St. James Tea Room, Albuquerque, NM

"Was Princess Diana's favorite. A very interesting and flavorful tea (hints of strawberry and lemon). Have a cup and see yourself lounging on a divan at the end of the day."

http://www.culinarycafe.com/Store/Traditional_Teas/SAM-109.html